Makati to award P100K to 8 centenarian residents

MANILA, Philippines - Eight centenarian residents of Makati City will receive P100,000 each as gift on Monday.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the eight centenarians, all women, have been traced in various barangays and have met the criteria for the special incentive.  However, four of them had already died and the cash gift will be received by their family members.

“Even though half of the awardees are no longer with us, we will still award the gift to the family they left behind. After all, they deserve our gratitude and respect for having taken care of their elders so well that they were able to reach their 100th birthday,” Binay said.

Through the joint efforts of the Makati Social Welfare Department (MSWD) and Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA), the following awardees who are still living were located: Juliana Gurango of Barangay Comembo, 102 years old; Felipa Kabigting of Guadalupe Viejo, 102; Luz Kahn of Forbes Park, 100; and Sr. Candida Asuncion of San Lorenzo Village, 100.

Binay said he looks forward to seeing all four living centenarians this Monday, together with their closest family members.  The mayor will host breakfast for the honorees and their families at the Mayor’s Office after the awarding ceremony.

Of the four deceased centenarians, 103-year old Girlie Ordoñez of Dasmariñas Village  and 100-year old Marceliana de Castro of San Lorenzo died just this week, on January 14 and 15, respectively.  Last year, Brigida Ungria of Kasilawan died at age 104, while Irenea dela Cruz of Bangkal died at 101.

The beneficiaries of the program were able to meet the following criteria set by the MSWD, lead implementer of the BLU Card Program: 1) must be a Filipino citizen; 2) must be a bonafide resident of Makati; 3) must have reached 100 years old as of January 1, 2012 until December 31, 2012; and 4) must be a BLU Card and White Card holder for at least five years.

Earlier, the Makati City Council approved the initial budgetary allocation of P2 million for the centennial cash gift program, which is the first of its kind to be implemented in the country.

Aside from the P100,000 cash incentive for centenarians, the city government recently increased the bi-annual allowances given to elderly citizens 70-79 years old from P2,000 to P3,000, and for those 80 years old and above, from P3,000 to P4,000. Meanwhile, those between 60-69 years old will still get the regular P2,000, also given in two equal installments. - Mike Frialde